Island accident kills 2005 Caseville grad

Published 10:45 am, Monday, April 25, 2016

DRUMMOND ISLAND  A former Caseville area man was struck by a vehicle and killed early Saturday morning as he was walking to catch a ferry home to his mothers house in DeTour.

According to Chippewa County Sheriff Jeff Moran, 20-year-old Chad Davis was pronounced dead at the scene in the early morning hours Saturday.

Moran reports Davis was dressed in dark clothing walking along Drummond Islands State Route 134 around 1:35 a.m. on Saturday when he was struck by an automobile driven by a 19-year-old Drummond Island man. The driver and Davis were traveling down the road in the same direction and both attempted to avoid the collision.

At this point, it appears to be a tragic accident  a terrible turn of events, Moran explained. The preliminary investigation of the accident indicates the Drummond Island man, the driver of the vehicle, noticed Chad (Davis) and tried to swerve, but at that same time Chad (Davis) noticed the vehicle coming at him and jumped to get out of the way in the same direction as the vehicle.

Moran said a Michigan State Police Accident Reconstructionist was called to the scene to investigate the fatal accident.

Chad (Davis) was located in a ditch, Moran said. It took a search to find him.

Davis was found by Chippewa County Sheriff deputies and the Detour Fire and Ambulance. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Drummond Island man was treated at an unspecified medical facility for minor injuries following the crash.

Moran said the initial investigation and preliminary tests indicate there was no alcohol detected in the drivers system at the time of the crash. Moran described the speed limit along State Highway 134 as a 55 mph zone dropping down to 45 mph in areas where the road curves.

Davis was a 2005 graduate of Caseville High School and was a well-known basketball player at the school his junior and senior year. He recently completed his first year of college at Northwood University in Midland. He was living in DeTour for the summer while working on Drummond Island. The Associated Press contributed to this report.